Gallego, Dan Michael
An Experience of Prayer and Work
As a best-selling author would put it, an experience away from the life you are used to can be described in three words: “Eat, Pray and Love.” Translated into the Bedan values, “Prayer, Work, and Peace” exactly captures the summation of my trip in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Though Vietnam is just another Asian country, it is still a different country and when I was there, there was not a single day that I did not miss the things I left home. Wherever I looked, I could not help but think of the Philippines, everything beautiful or good I saw, I wished my own country had it too. Nevertheless, none of my daydreaming changed the fact that I was in a different country where everything, except for those things that are really universal, was a stranger to me. There was only one thing that made me feel home: my rosary – a little thing that served as a constant reminder for me that wherever I may be, He is there with me.
As it was my first time to travel alone, prayer was there even while I was packing my luggage, saying goodbye to my father, queuing at the airport, and boarding the plane. I can no longer expound how often I prayed, but there was this one time when time when I really believe God intervened for me: I was in a bus and it was almost too late when I realized that I was lost. In Hanoi, everyone approaches me in Vietnamese language since I also look like them. Inside the bus, a guy said something to me for no reason.
I did not understand him at first because of his accent, but I knew he was saying something in English. That moment I felt a sudden pang of relief. When I asked him to repeat what he was saying, I realized that he was offering to take me to my destination. Since we cannot converse that much and he was really having a hard time with English, I called my host buddy and let him talk to the guy so he could instruct him to bring me to the right bus station. I got home safely that night and everything was just astonishing like an answered prayer.
Praying was also the last thing I did every night when I was there. Realizing my hidden capabilities and thinking of the impact that I make through my projects there, there were nights when I was very overwhelmed and happy, yet I could not share it with anyone aside from my host buddy and my on my Twitter, I just shared everything to Him.
While on the Global Passport project, I also got to involve myself in the other projects of the AIESEC Local Committee there such as the Summer Camp and the Outgoing Exchange Preparations.
I really enjoyed every task that I had because it gave me a platform to share myself, my talents and ideas with other people. Beyond the superficial labour in all those projects I was in, I found freedom and independence for myself and in the end I felt I was more myself than ever and I was able to make a step above towards the fulfilment of my own possibilities.
Along the way, I encountered many people too who would tell me that I am amazing, motivating, funny, energetic, great and so on, which became for me a constant reminder during the course of the kind of life that anyone in this world should pine for. Now that I know that I am somehow on the right track, I can say that I have become more inspired to learn more and strive more.
Of course, the meaningful and life-changing experience Hanoi would have been the same if not because of the host family who accommodated me in their home throughout my internship. For me, they were definitely one of the best things I had in Vietnam. I had a family that knew how to show me that they care for me and try to communicate with me although the language was a barrier.
I admire the Vietnamese family culture of eating together too, especially that I come from a dysfunctional family. It brings a lot of memories of my real family when we used to be together. How their family bonded while preparing and during dinner was one of the things that impressed me even on my first day with them. They cook their food together in the kitchen and eat together on one table. I believe that these kinds of practice are what nourish their relationship with each other as a family.
The food are enjoyable as well as their unique style of eating some of them, like combining sticky rice with ground peanuts, and pouring some soup over some fresh leaves. They are healthy and so delectable. If you are the healthy-eater type, you would surely appreciate all the meals that they serve in this country.
Through the numerous people who has offered to drive me somewhere, eat out with me, bring me to a movie house and the like, I can say that Vietnam is a nation of caring individuals who would not want anything but the best for you.
It was an experience of prayer and work.
An Experience of Prayer and Work
As a best-selling author would put it, an experience away from the life you are used to can be described in three words: “Eat, Pray and Love.” Translated into the Bedan values, “Prayer, Work, and Peace” exactly captures the summation of my trip in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Though Vietnam is just another Asian country, it is still a different country and when I was there, there was not a single day that I did not miss the things I left home. Wherever I looked, I could not help but think of the Philippines, everything beautiful or good I saw, I wished my own country had it too. Nevertheless, none of my daydreaming changed the fact that I was in a different country where everything, except for those things that are really universal, was a stranger to me. There was only one thing that made me feel home: my rosary – a little thing that served as a constant reminder for me that wherever I may be, He is there with me.
As it was my first time to travel alone, prayer was there even while I was packing my luggage, saying goodbye to my father, queuing at the airport, and boarding the plane. I can no longer expound how often I prayed, but there was this one time when time when I really believe God intervened for me: I was in a bus and it was almost too late when I realized that I was lost. In Hanoi, everyone approaches me in Vietnamese language since I also look like them. Inside the bus, a guy said something to me for no reason.
I did not understand him at first because of his accent, but I knew he was saying something in English. That moment I felt a sudden pang of relief. When I asked him to repeat what he was saying, I realized that he was offering to take me to my destination. Since we cannot converse that much and he was really having a hard time with English, I called my host buddy and let him talk to the guy so he could instruct him to bring me to the right bus station. I got home safely that night and everything was just astonishing like an answered prayer.
Praying was also the last thing I did every night when I was there. Realizing my hidden capabilities and thinking of the impact that I make through my projects there, there were nights when I was very overwhelmed and happy, yet I could not share it with anyone aside from my host buddy and my on my Twitter, I just shared everything to Him.
While on the Global Passport project, I also got to involve myself in the other projects of the AIESEC Local Committee there such as the Summer Camp and the Outgoing Exchange Preparations.
I really enjoyed every task that I had because it gave me a platform to share myself, my talents and ideas with other people. Beyond the superficial labour in all those projects I was in, I found freedom and independence for myself and in the end I felt I was more myself than ever and I was able to make a step above towards the fulfilment of my own possibilities.
Along the way, I encountered many people too who would tell me that I am amazing, motivating, funny, energetic, great and so on, which became for me a constant reminder during the course of the kind of life that anyone in this world should pine for. Now that I know that I am somehow on the right track, I can say that I have become more inspired to learn more and strive more.
Of course, the meaningful and life-changing experience Hanoi would have been the same if not because of the host family who accommodated me in their home throughout my internship. For me, they were definitely one of the best things I had in Vietnam. I had a family that knew how to show me that they care for me and try to communicate with me although the language was a barrier.
I admire the Vietnamese family culture of eating together too, especially that I come from a dysfunctional family. It brings a lot of memories of my real family when we used to be together. How their family bonded while preparing and during dinner was one of the things that impressed me even on my first day with them. They cook their food together in the kitchen and eat together on one table. I believe that these kinds of practice are what nourish their relationship with each other as a family.
The food are enjoyable as well as their unique style of eating some of them, like combining sticky rice with ground peanuts, and pouring some soup over some fresh leaves. They are healthy and so delectable. If you are the healthy-eater type, you would surely appreciate all the meals that they serve in this country.
Through the numerous people who has offered to drive me somewhere, eat out with me, bring me to a movie house and the like, I can say that Vietnam is a nation of caring individuals who would not want anything but the best for you.
It was an experience of prayer and work.
